building
Seifert House
nice open plan house in Austria designed by Michael Shamiyeh
members.aon.at/baukultur
Taiwan National Performing Arts Centre
The National Performing Arts Center will become the new icon of the city of Kaohsiung, the largest harbour city of Taiwan and one of the largest harbour cities in the world with 1.5 million inhabitants. By building the Performing Arts Center, the city will symbolize its evolution from a harbour city to a modern cultural city. An important source of inspiration for Mecanoo’s building design were the existing centuries-old banyan trees on location. The banyan tree is one of the world’s largest trees. The crown of the Banyan tree can grow so wide that according to legend, Alexander the Great took shelter underneath it with his entire army. Mecanoo’s building complex is 200 metres wide and 160 metres deep. Because of the openings in the roof, the passageways and open spaces, an almost porous building is created in which interior and exterior blur. The partially grass and plant covered roof creates natural and efficient building cooling in the subtropical climate. The large roof also provides an informal public space where the city residents can stroll, practice Tai Chi, mediate or just relax. Inspired by old Greek theatre, an open-air theatre was designed on the roof complex at the point where the roof dips to the ground. The surrounding park in turn becomes a stage.
Zaha Hadid from London won second prize. Kiyoshi Sey Takeyama Amorphe from Tokyo, Japan became third. In total 43 international architects entered the competition.
Royal Ontario Museum Extension, Toronto
What started out as a sketch on a napkin at a family wedding, soon became a submission for Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum extension. This extension may well signal the prelude to the city’s cultural renaissance, and be the first deviation from the boxy buildings of the existing landscape. It’s about time someone got away from the boxes, plus this building is not too shabby either.
World-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, who also won the 2002 contest to replace New York’s World Trade Center, faxed the napkins in. Since then, the 56,000 square-foot addition has brewed several controversies amongst Torontonians and architecture buffs - as does any visionary work, or so they say. While some praise its bold design marked by angular complexity, others believe it’s an insult to a heritage monument. Yet others just think it resembles an alien ship from space. At least it has people talking.
